Hospital de Emergencias Enfermera Isabel Zendal

The Hospital de Emergencias Enfermera Isabel Zendal is a public hospital constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Hortaleza district of Madrid, Spain.[1] Having opened its doors in December 2020 after a construction period of only 100 days,[1][2] it had become the city's main recipient of patients infected by the virus by January 2021.[3] It is named after Isabel Zendal, a Spanish nurse notable for participating in the 1803–06 Balmis Expedition which brought smallpox vaccination to South America and Asia.[4]

Hospital de Emergencias Enfermera Isabel Zendal
Madrid Health Service
Geography
LocationAvenida Manuel Fraga Iribarne 2, 28055 Madrid, Spain
Coordinates40°29′1″N 3°36′23″W
Organisation
TypeSpecialist
Services
Emergency departmentYes
Beds1,056
SpecialityCOVID-19
History
Construction started2020
Opened1 December 2020
Links
ListsHospitals in Spain

Uses and specialization

The building has a sectorable design to allow for adaptation of its facilities for uses beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] This includes 1,008 beds and 48 intensive care units, all equipped with "advanced medical technologies".[1][6] The hospital has modern communication and security systems, which include biometric recognition for both patients and staff and automatic doors.[6][7] Another notable feature is the centro logístico, a warehouse with a surface area of 8,000 square metres (86,000 sq ft) which will house the central repository of the Madrid Health Service.[8][6] Unlike other Madrilenian institutions, the hospital offers free Wi-fi.[9]

Criticism

While construction works were completed on schedule, the original budget had to be doubled, with the building ultimately costing "around 100 million Euros". Government officials justified this increase by pointing to the use of allegedly more advanced technologies.[10] Mónica García of opposition party Más Madrid compared the building to Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport, an oft-cited example for wasteful spending.[10][11] Local union representatives have criticized a general lack of qualified personnel, fearing that the new hospital may purge doctors and nurses from elsewhere.[12] The opening ceremony of the hospital, attended by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the President of the Community of Madrid, was accompanied by protests.[13]

References
  1. "El Hospital público Enfermera Isabel Zendal entra en funcionamiento" (in Spanish). Comunidad de Madrid. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  2. Guede, Araceli (1 December 2020). "Así es el Hospital Isabel Zendal, por dentro: más de 1.000 camas, 80.000 m. cuadrados, 100 días de trabajo..." (in Spanish). 20minutos. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  3. Belver, Marta (8 January 2021). "El Isabel Zendal ya es el hospital con más pacientes con Covid-19 en Madrid" (in Spanish). El País. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  4. "El hospital para pandemias se llamará Isabel Zendal, enfermera que combatió viruela" (in Spanish). La Vanguardia. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  5. González, Daniela (11 September 2020). "Así será el Hospital de Emergencias Enfermera Isabel Zendal, en Madrid" (in Spanish). Gaceta Médica. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  6. "El nuevo Hospital de Emergencias Enfermera Isabel Zendal ya alcanza el 90% de su construcción" (in Spanish). Comunidad de Madrid. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  7. Fernández, Rafael (30 November 2020). "Cuenta atrás para la inauguración del hospital Isabel Zendal" (in Spanish). La Razón. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  8. "Ayuso inaugura este martes el hospital de emergencias Enfermera Isabel Zendal" (in Spanish). Vozpópuli. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  9. Caballero, Fátima (11 December 2020). "El hospital Zendal de Madrid se estrena con pacientes y médicos voluntarios, 100 millones de euros después" (in Spanish). elDiario.es. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  10. "Madrid reconoce que el Hospital Isabel Zendal acumula un sobrecoste del doble de lo presupuestado" (in Spanish). Público. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  11. Minder, Raphael (18 July 2012). "In Spain, a Symbol of Ruin at an Airport to Nowhere". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  12. "Madrid inaugura un hospital para la COVID-19 en un clima de protestas por la falta de personal" (in Spanish). Reuters. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  13. "El Hospital Isabel Zendal entra en funcionamiento entre las protestas de los sanitarios por los traslados forzosos" (in Spanish). Público. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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